Wichita eagle., 1887-08-31
TWO INSANE PATIENTS.
THEY ARE TOLD TO KEEP AN EYE
ON EACH OTHER.

yin CHCT " TIN.
Each Thinks the Other ICrazy-In the
Course of Time the Effect Proves Benz
eficial-The Reason of Both Patients
is Restored.
The increase of insanity in this city during
the past few years is remarkable, and the
scientists are searching among dry statistics
and the history of individual cases for the
cause of the increase. The asylums are over
crowded everywhere, and the public institu-
lions cannot contain the number of patients
who are sent there. Formerly if one case a
week appeared it was thought to be about
the average; now there is not a day passes
when the boat that goes to BlackwelPs
Island does not carry from five to ten luna
tics The lack of accommodations for them
has rendered doubling up system necessary,
and in two cases, at least, the result has been
of decided benefit, and further experiments
will be made in the same line that may lead
to some important changes in the treatment
of the insane.
TWO LUNATICS TOGETHER.
Williams and Harkins were placed in a
padded cell together. The only restraint
placed on them was strap that held their
hands firmly at the side. The barbarous treat
ment that patients of this kind formerly re-
ceived happily is given no more. Chains,
clubs, dark cells that were never cleaned, in
struments of torture, as well as bleeding and
the administration of violent emetics and
purgatives, have all been abolished from the
modern asylum, together with the fiction
hot coA vxyifl n
that deser' to be tortured. When placed
together each of the patients was told that
his companion was going to commit suicide.
There is nothing that pleases an insane per-
son better than being placed in charge of
another. While they are both violent and
dangerous, yet the fascination of watching a
lunatic completely absorbs the entire atten-
ton, and a cat watching mouse does not
exhibit the carefulness with which Harkins
watched Williams and Williams watched
Harkins. Each one thought the other was
as crazy as loon, while he himself was per-
fectly sane After they had been together
about month and had become thoroughly
familiar with each other their hands
were freed and they were at liberty
to do what they saw fit. Williams
had delusicn that his head was metal
ball, and he rolled it on the floor, taking his
body along with it, of course His companion
always greeted this harmless amusement with
derision and scornful laugh, and would pro-
coed to show some of his accomplishments.
Being a cow, he was an expert at bucking,
and would run at the wall hard enough to
break his skull. The padding prevented him
from doing any harm. Such an exhibition
Of levity would disgust Williams. They had
several other accomplishments in their roper
toire that they would show to each other, all
of which were manifestations of decisions of
some nature. The effect on the mind of each
was that of sympathy for his companion,
who was so unfortunate as to be foolish, and
unable to act reasonably.
But with all their fun, the vigilant watch
was kept up all the time One of them could
not make a move that the other did not see
They kept the motive of their close watch Sc
cret, but in time it seemed as If both got an
idea that each was the others keeper. This
was shown when the morbid impulse that i'm
PEELED to suicide was coming on They
would inform each other ABOUT it, not in so
many words, but by sigma and movements,
and then they would sit closely together
AN IMPROVEMENT NOTICED.
longer there was an improvement noticed in
their condition by the attending physician.
They ceased to fight against taking food, and
had lucid intervals more frequently. They
took less interest in bucking and rolling the
ball, and days would pass without either of
them showing any insane antics. A feeling
of interest sprang up for each other outside
of the performance of duty, and they became
friendly and laxative. Being closely watched
by the attendants, it was seen, after several
months, that the depression that precedes an
attempt to take life in the insane had disap.
peared. and they were taken from their
padded room into one more cheerful, sunny
and light Other lunatics were with them
but they stuck together. and watched the
strange actions of their fellows with appsren.
surprise. They were given privileges abou,
| the place. Whatever they were told to dc
they did without hesitation. The cloud was
slowly lifting from their minds, it was
| evident They talked nationally with the
| physicians and together. When Williams
was told that he had an iron head he had nc
| idea what was meant by it, and when Har.
kins was told that he was a COW he looked
| upon it as a reflection upon his manhood and
became indignant Finally they were sep
arated and placed at work in different parts
of the building They were orderly and
obedient, and they met each other with feel
| ings of genuine pleasure.
Various tests were tried upon them for in.
sanity, but there was always a negative re
| suit. They knew where they were, what was
| the matter with the people who were there
| with them, but had no knowledge of wha,
| their condition formerly had been. There
could not be any doubt about the complete
restoration to reason, and last week they
| were both discharged
| Other patients who have similar form O.
insanity, when the good work was shown in
| Harkins and Williams, have been put to
gether, and in every case there is marked
improvement, and it is expected that some
definite rules win be evolved from these cases
that win help this unfortunate class Of people
| New York Cor Cincinnati Enquirer.